Request for comment - G320 wiring

Well, I'm FINALLY getting around to wiring up the G320s I bought
last CHRISTMAS. ( My Christmas present to myself )

Naturally, I'm a bit bogged down by the error/reset connections.

While studying the various solutions and schematics put forward by
all on this list, none of them really the mark, as far as I was
concerned.

One of the issues is this. I regularly use machine control and manual
control at the same time, meaning individual sets/reset switches for each
channel are required.

I also wanted a way to have an EStop input shut down the controllers, not just
send a signal to the software.

What I came up with is a PIC to handle all the inputs and outputs. The
programming is fairly straightforward -

. close a switch and one or all of the channels are disabled.
. release the switch and one or all of channels are reset and then released.
. upon an error condition, all channels are disabled and the appropriate LED
is lighted.

Note that disabling a channel disengages a relay supplying power to the G320s.
After a short delay, the channel is repowered, but held in reset.

A PDF of the schematic is

http://www.sfu.ca/~beer/G320.pdf

Any comments or other required features greatly appreciated. One that
comes to mind is an EStop output, sent to the PC. There is an unused
output on the PIC for this purpose - whether it's actually required or not
is unclear to me.

Thanks in advance.

Alan


--

Alan Rothenbush | The Spartans do not ask the number of the
Academic Computing Services | enemy, only where they are.
Simon Fraser University |
Burnaby, B.C., Canada | Agix of Sparta